With the profile of this small, democratic and peaceful Central American country being raised, more and more people looking for a second home or a new home abroad are also awakening to the delights of the Costa Rican property market.

This article examines some of the main reasons why investment in the real estate market in Costa Rica is seen as so attractive by so many and why the property market is booming.

Land and house prices in Costa Rica are highly affordable, the current boom in the market is of course naturally inflating prices, but levels have yet to reach any where near those in the US, UK or Canada. For example, on a luxury beach front development plots are available from as little as USD 80,000 with completed detached homes on sizeable plots starting from just USD 249,000. The country also has a strong resale market.

There are already over 50,000 US citizens living in Costa Rica and the country is accepted by America as a politically and economically stable country, as a result many US brokers are able to arrange finance for property purchase in Costa Rica.

The country is famous for its neutrality and as the most stable country in Central America and the CIA World Fact Book lists the country as “a Central American success story”. Citizens happily boast that they are so peaceful a nation they have no need for an army, that school children are able to preside over crowd control at election time and that the country has more teachers than it does policemen!

An added lure for investors and those looking to move to the country or retire in Costa Rica is the favourable low taxation regime that the country has adopted. Add to this the fact that land ownership is widespread and property ownership rights in Costa Rica for non-residents or foreign citizens are unrivalled across the whole Central and Latin American region and you begin to get a feel for how attractive the country is.

The Costa Rican people emulate the American or Western way of life and as a result they strive for a good quality lifestyle; for those moving to the country this means they benefit from excellent infrastructure and communications as well as a high standard of service and choice commercially speaking. Electricity is available even in the remotest outer lying regions, internet and telecommunication links are strong, the water throughout the country is pure and drinkable, Costa Rica even has around a dozen TV channels and countless radio stations. All in all this Central American country is as sophisticated as it is beautiful.

With active and inactive volcanoes, stunning mountains, rain forests, an abundance of rare flora and fauna, the stunning Caribbean Sea on one side and the wild North Pacific Ocean on the other, Costa Rica has an ideal climate, beautiful scenery and offers something for everyone!

For those interested in relocating to Costa Rica the cost of living is low, health care services are incredibly sophisticated and affordable with most doctors and specialists being US trained. This has actually resulted in a new industry developing in the country for low cost health care and cosmetic surgery performed by world class doctors at Central American prices! Education and literacy standards are very high, most Costa Ricans have an excellent command of English, the legal system in the country is based on the Spanish system, the country is democratic and its economy is strong, stable and based on tourism, agriculture and the export of electronics. The boom in the property market has not upset this balance at all and the economy is not reliant on the real estate market meaning it will remain stable and property prices are not being artificially talked up.

Costa Rica has long been a haven for those seeking an oasis of beauty, calm, the perfect climate and eco-diversity, it offers an incredible quality of life, an affordable idyllic lifestyle and is an opportunity waiting to be further explored.